Govt Reduces 'Unlawful' Content Removal Deadline for Social Media Firms From 36 Hours to 3 Hours
Platforms must label AI-generated posts and remove illegal content within 3 hours, or risk losing safe-harbour protection, officials said.
- The Indian government has tightened Information Technology Rules to combat AI-generated deepfakes, mandating a 3-hour takedown deadline for illegal content and requiring platforms to implement clear labeling and metadata for all synthetic material.
- These amendments build upon the India AI Governance Guidelines released on November 5, 2025, reducing the illegal content removal timeline from 36 hours to 3 hours to address the rapid spread of harmful synthetically generated information.
- Complaints involving nudity or impersonation must now be addressed within two hours, a significant reduction from the previous 24-hour deadline, while platforms must adopt automated technical measures to detect and flag illegal content.
- The Ministry warned that platforms failing to comply risk losing their "safe harbour" protection under the Information Technology Act, ensuring accountability across digital platforms operating in India.
- By requiring traceable metadata and automated detection, the government seeks to help citizens distinguish between authentic and manipulated audio, video, or text content, creating an open, safe, and trusted cyberspace for all users.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Deepfakes & AI Content Under GOI’s Scanner: 3-Hour Deadline for Takedown Under New Rules
Grievance redressal timelines have also been tightened, from 72 hours to 36 hours for standard complaints, and from 24 hours to just 2 hours for sensitive categories like nudity or impersonation. Earlier the deadline was 7 days in 2023, when AI-fueled deepfakes of actors and influencers flooded social media in 2023.
Centre cuts unlawful content takedown deadline to 3 hours
Intermediaries are also required to ensure clear labelling and traceable metadata for permissible AI-generated content, so that users can easily identify synthetically generated material and prevent deception or misuse
From 36 Hours To Just 3-Hour Deadline: MeitY Cuts Social Media Takedown Deadline, Mandates Deepfake Labels
In the latest development, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has introduced stricter compliance rules for social media platforms, significantly reducing the time available to remove unlawful content. Under the revised Information Technology (IT) Rules, intermediaries
Artificial intelligence-based content will be labeled as synthetic content and AI. There will be a three-hour window to remove illegal content. However, it currently appears as if social media companies are not complying. The government has been saying for months that changes will be made and companies will be required to remove illegal content within three hours.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
